Posts
Love has everything to do with it. What ever heart break or struggle, what ever Victory given over circumstances that arise in life. Love touches, heals, hopes, endures, prays, laughs. But most of all, love SAVES. Eph 2:8-9. You are saved by GRACE. His glorious Grace. It's a gift of God, so that no man can boast. (my paraphrase) Where ever you may be, or those you love may be in their life right now....reach out in love.
Next up: Some lessons learned from Job.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
What's in a book?
I entered the dark room and salivated at the numerous books on dusty shelves. Piled high and deep, the tomes bowed the shelves. Children's literature, Historical Fiction, Science Experiment helps and so many more drew me to them to take in their spines and analyze their titles. Many I had already purchased for our home library and were reading to my children, of course, as a young mother at the time, I felt as if I was doing the best for my children and left this mom's home encouraged. Upon my next visit, I noticed many titles I'd not had the chance to view previously. Shelf after shelf of self help books which this mom could name and tell you all about at the drop of a hat caught my eye. In that instant, standing there in the dark library, I felt the Lord say to me: Look for fruit. As I looked around, I viewed a great many ideals, but very little fruit in the lives of the people who's home I was in. As I drove home that day, I realized that I could let the Lord be the instigator of what we read and how we live out what we put into our minds and hearts or I could just collect books on ideals without much time to cultivate fruit from Truth.
I made a commitment then to seek Him in literature that would develop me as a professional-for-Messiah wife and mother. A short time later, I attend a homeschool conference in Texas and my eyes cast upon Stepping Heavenward, by Elizabeth Prentiss. For nearly 10 years it remained my only professional development book. I've blogged about it previously and won't take time to repeat those words here. Suffice to say that this book developed me as a woman in love with Jesus.
But what about Mothering? I didn't have a clue! My mom gave me a HUGE encyclopedia of Childhood Diseases from the 60s when I had Lyndsay in 1990. About the only help I got from it was determining types of rashes. (grin!) Praise the Lord, at the same conference I discovered Stepping, I also found Sally Clarkson, a Mom after my own Heart! Ideals, children, love of God and fellow man, how to live that out in a world of sin and struggle were personified for me in this sweet woman. I bought her books, all of them. Sally's training with Campus Crusade in her early 20s taught her to disciple and her style fit my need. Season's of a Mother's Heart, Educating the Whole Hearted Child, Our 24 Family ways, Mission of Motherhood, Ministry of Motherhood and Dancing with my Father are all titles that I view as I look on my Mom development shelf today. These books all lead and develop a mom and wife to see the Cross in all Circumstances she may face. Training in the ministry of being a mother kept me going on muscle memory of our family's core beliefs of Truth when I didn't know what to do.
Ok, but what about the ideals and desires of living a Godly life when your roof has caved in and the damage is severe?! One author for you there: Marilyn Meberg's What to do when the roof caves in. Yep, that's the title of it. Fantastic, practical, Godly guidance and council for a whole host of Satan's attempts to destroy families today.
Choosing to see when I couldn't is Mary Beth Chapman in her book titled Choosing to See. This book pointed out the power of Community in destruction and sorrow as well as what it means to be Stewards of the pain for Him and His glory. I highly recommend this book to any mom who's heart is hurt.
Get out of that Pit by Beth Moore helped me to realize there was such a thing as a pit to begin with. I laughed, cried and certainly decided NOT to decorate the pit I/we were in according to the latest styles from HGTV. Nope, it was time to build that ladder from rough hewn roots in the soil and get out in the sun and live! By the way, those rough hewn roots were our faith, past victories and the current cave in's cinderblock remains covered in His Blood for sure footing as we climbed out. I highly recommend this for some perspective, then pass it on to someone else and don't live in the pit.
Finally, the Prodigal Son by Father Nouwen. Pure power. Certainly, as a protestant family, we have some difference as it relates to worship and God's word. But the crux of this book is so deep. I'm still trying to grasp the final chapter on the Father of the Prodigal. This story is one we all take as Believers in Him. We are all Prodigals, we all have the elder son's characteristics and we are all on the quest to respond as the Father did. Find this one, read it and keep it. It'll take you awhile, tho, so don't be discouraged.
A final thought on the books that help grow my heart: I line them all up with God's word first! I also sift them through Sermons of trusted shepherds we've been blessed to learn from. I hope these titles help some of you.
Next up: What's Love Got to To with It!?
I made a commitment then to seek Him in literature that would develop me as a professional-for-Messiah wife and mother. A short time later, I attend a homeschool conference in Texas and my eyes cast upon Stepping Heavenward, by Elizabeth Prentiss. For nearly 10 years it remained my only professional development book. I've blogged about it previously and won't take time to repeat those words here. Suffice to say that this book developed me as a woman in love with Jesus.
But what about Mothering? I didn't have a clue! My mom gave me a HUGE encyclopedia of Childhood Diseases from the 60s when I had Lyndsay in 1990. About the only help I got from it was determining types of rashes. (grin!) Praise the Lord, at the same conference I discovered Stepping, I also found Sally Clarkson, a Mom after my own Heart! Ideals, children, love of God and fellow man, how to live that out in a world of sin and struggle were personified for me in this sweet woman. I bought her books, all of them. Sally's training with Campus Crusade in her early 20s taught her to disciple and her style fit my need. Season's of a Mother's Heart, Educating the Whole Hearted Child, Our 24 Family ways, Mission of Motherhood, Ministry of Motherhood and Dancing with my Father are all titles that I view as I look on my Mom development shelf today. These books all lead and develop a mom and wife to see the Cross in all Circumstances she may face. Training in the ministry of being a mother kept me going on muscle memory of our family's core beliefs of Truth when I didn't know what to do.
Ok, but what about the ideals and desires of living a Godly life when your roof has caved in and the damage is severe?! One author for you there: Marilyn Meberg's What to do when the roof caves in. Yep, that's the title of it. Fantastic, practical, Godly guidance and council for a whole host of Satan's attempts to destroy families today.
Choosing to see when I couldn't is Mary Beth Chapman in her book titled Choosing to See. This book pointed out the power of Community in destruction and sorrow as well as what it means to be Stewards of the pain for Him and His glory. I highly recommend this book to any mom who's heart is hurt.
Get out of that Pit by Beth Moore helped me to realize there was such a thing as a pit to begin with. I laughed, cried and certainly decided NOT to decorate the pit I/we were in according to the latest styles from HGTV. Nope, it was time to build that ladder from rough hewn roots in the soil and get out in the sun and live! By the way, those rough hewn roots were our faith, past victories and the current cave in's cinderblock remains covered in His Blood for sure footing as we climbed out. I highly recommend this for some perspective, then pass it on to someone else and don't live in the pit.
Finally, the Prodigal Son by Father Nouwen. Pure power. Certainly, as a protestant family, we have some difference as it relates to worship and God's word. But the crux of this book is so deep. I'm still trying to grasp the final chapter on the Father of the Prodigal. This story is one we all take as Believers in Him. We are all Prodigals, we all have the elder son's characteristics and we are all on the quest to respond as the Father did. Find this one, read it and keep it. It'll take you awhile, tho, so don't be discouraged.
A final thought on the books that help grow my heart: I line them all up with God's word first! I also sift them through Sermons of trusted shepherds we've been blessed to learn from. I hope these titles help some of you.
Next up: What's Love Got to To with It!?
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
How I'm doing it
The key board feels a million miles away from my heart right. Words I want to express thoughtfully and with reverence allude. As is often the case the thoughts I'm mulling over are prompted by a girlfriend yesterday asking me: "How do you do it, Kellie?"
The short answer is: I don't. We (John and I together) haven't. God does.
Again, looking back at the walk this roof cave in gave us, the initial few months were one of shock and fear and a tremendous amount of tears. In the beginning the amount of grace I gave myself as a wife and mother came from the wise words of a woman who told me the following: After my husband died, I spent 3 weeks in bed, I couldn't do it. I had a 1 year old crawling on the floor and I had to get up, but couldn't. I knew instantly I wasn't alone, the black hole I felt spiraling inside was normal. This beautiful woman's life and testimony (It's an amazing one full of such love!!!!) of restoration spoke to me and I could know that His provision for us would be enough, too.
Therapy Sessions, Phone calls with lawyers, social workers, overseeing my children's education, writing endless checks to people all took their toll on me and I would wind up spending 1/2 of my day in bed or in my chair. I just couldn't function. I was drawn constantly back to my foundation of Faith and I needed the rest and quiet to cling to it. Awana verses I'd memorized with my children were my first thoughts day and night. They sustained me. Living on the manna of the Father above.
Romans: There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Job: Tho He slay me, yet will I serve Him.
Genesis: God saw Hagar in the desert with Ishmael, I knew the I AM saw us!
Mary's reply to God's will: Oh my soul does magnify the Lord and my spirit does rejoice in God my Savior.
If a beautiful Hebrew young girl was chosen to take on the birth of the Messiah of the World and all the anguish and joy it would bring her; clearly with that same (now crucified for me and RISEN!)Messiah's help, I could have the same maternal reply.
And so, in the beginning, needing much rest and taking it, I clung to my faith and the scriptures memorized in my heart.
Next up: the power of good books in a mom's life and the role they played.
The short answer is: I don't. We (John and I together) haven't. God does.
Again, looking back at the walk this roof cave in gave us, the initial few months were one of shock and fear and a tremendous amount of tears. In the beginning the amount of grace I gave myself as a wife and mother came from the wise words of a woman who told me the following: After my husband died, I spent 3 weeks in bed, I couldn't do it. I had a 1 year old crawling on the floor and I had to get up, but couldn't. I knew instantly I wasn't alone, the black hole I felt spiraling inside was normal. This beautiful woman's life and testimony (It's an amazing one full of such love!!!!) of restoration spoke to me and I could know that His provision for us would be enough, too.
Therapy Sessions, Phone calls with lawyers, social workers, overseeing my children's education, writing endless checks to people all took their toll on me and I would wind up spending 1/2 of my day in bed or in my chair. I just couldn't function. I was drawn constantly back to my foundation of Faith and I needed the rest and quiet to cling to it. Awana verses I'd memorized with my children were my first thoughts day and night. They sustained me. Living on the manna of the Father above.
Romans: There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Job: Tho He slay me, yet will I serve Him.
Genesis: God saw Hagar in the desert with Ishmael, I knew the I AM saw us!
Mary's reply to God's will: Oh my soul does magnify the Lord and my spirit does rejoice in God my Savior.
If a beautiful Hebrew young girl was chosen to take on the birth of the Messiah of the World and all the anguish and joy it would bring her; clearly with that same (now crucified for me and RISEN!)Messiah's help, I could have the same maternal reply.
And so, in the beginning, needing much rest and taking it, I clung to my faith and the scriptures memorized in my heart.
Next up: the power of good books in a mom's life and the role they played.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
What to say when suffering comes
I have a girlfriend in Colorado who's heart is fresh with pain. It's a pain I recognize through tears as we talked several weeks ago. It's a black hole in your heart pain that a person thinks can never be whole again.
Today on Facebook my same girlfriend mentioned that people just need to listen and not offer advice and certainly not act like one of Job's *wise* friends and counselors did for him. The power of the human ears, listening as James tells us to. Be slow to speak, quick to listen.
I am so very blessed that within the first few hours and days after our roof cave in I had practical help from my Dad and Mom as well as 2 precious friends who brought us soup, cried with me and told me God's shoulders were big enough to handle my fear and unbelief. Both of these ladies who ministered to me know unspeakable heart ache well. But oh, what Glory was given to Him when these beautiful women took our broken family to His feet in prayer!
Today on my run, I listened to our former youth pastor at Paz Naz preach on my iPhone. Keegz preached on taking the Lord's yoke and be shaped by it. His message was powerful and I was shouting AMEN while passing the dog walkers in the neighborhood. Here's an illustration from the sermon:
A pastor filled the altar area one Sunday morning with empty white buckets. As the pastor began to preach on needs and burdens that the congregation had he offered the buckets up to the congregation to fill with loose change and money in their wallets. The congregation filled them. Then the pastor invited the people to come and take as they had need of that morning to keep the lights on, feed their families, put gas in the car to get to work etc. Nobody moved. The pastor thought and spoke to those in the congregation who KNEW the needs of those around them and asked them to bring them to the altar and take as they had need. Nobody moved....UNTIL: one shaking woman grabbed a girlfriend by the hand and took her to the altar and insisted she take as she had a great need. The woman, sobbing, took and then turned back to find her seat. As she did so, another woman in the congregation sprang up and said "Oh, no! You know that's not enough!" and she encouraged her friend with a knowledge of the need as well to take as she needed. Her burden was lightened. Messiah had provided for her and the congregation met the needs of others that day and left with burdens eased and a sense of compassion for one another.
That's the greatest thing you can do when someone you know is suffering: meet the emergent need of bringing them to the Lord, showing them the way to Him, sharing your own suffering and sorrows if they are similar and applicable. Hot soup, later a batch of cookies, ironing a shirt for court, watching my children, crying with me, listening to me, scrapbooking with me, teaching me to stamp and telling me that God's shoulders were big enough for my unbelief were enough for me to come close to me in my suffering.
My sweet girlfriend, T.H., I'm bringing you before the throne today. How I wish I could hold you and share tears with you and LAUGH with you. I have lovely pictures of your children and you together when they were little. The memories I am reliving with you now we will both do one day before the Throne of the King. Until then, please know, God's shoulders are big enough, His provision for you is great and the black hole will become sealed up in your heart through the continuous blood of Messiah washing your wound to healing.
Today on Facebook my same girlfriend mentioned that people just need to listen and not offer advice and certainly not act like one of Job's *wise* friends and counselors did for him. The power of the human ears, listening as James tells us to. Be slow to speak, quick to listen.
I am so very blessed that within the first few hours and days after our roof cave in I had practical help from my Dad and Mom as well as 2 precious friends who brought us soup, cried with me and told me God's shoulders were big enough to handle my fear and unbelief. Both of these ladies who ministered to me know unspeakable heart ache well. But oh, what Glory was given to Him when these beautiful women took our broken family to His feet in prayer!
Today on my run, I listened to our former youth pastor at Paz Naz preach on my iPhone. Keegz preached on taking the Lord's yoke and be shaped by it. His message was powerful and I was shouting AMEN while passing the dog walkers in the neighborhood. Here's an illustration from the sermon:
A pastor filled the altar area one Sunday morning with empty white buckets. As the pastor began to preach on needs and burdens that the congregation had he offered the buckets up to the congregation to fill with loose change and money in their wallets. The congregation filled them. Then the pastor invited the people to come and take as they had need of that morning to keep the lights on, feed their families, put gas in the car to get to work etc. Nobody moved. The pastor thought and spoke to those in the congregation who KNEW the needs of those around them and asked them to bring them to the altar and take as they had need. Nobody moved....UNTIL: one shaking woman grabbed a girlfriend by the hand and took her to the altar and insisted she take as she had a great need. The woman, sobbing, took and then turned back to find her seat. As she did so, another woman in the congregation sprang up and said "Oh, no! You know that's not enough!" and she encouraged her friend with a knowledge of the need as well to take as she needed. Her burden was lightened. Messiah had provided for her and the congregation met the needs of others that day and left with burdens eased and a sense of compassion for one another.
That's the greatest thing you can do when someone you know is suffering: meet the emergent need of bringing them to the Lord, showing them the way to Him, sharing your own suffering and sorrows if they are similar and applicable. Hot soup, later a batch of cookies, ironing a shirt for court, watching my children, crying with me, listening to me, scrapbooking with me, teaching me to stamp and telling me that God's shoulders were big enough for my unbelief were enough for me to come close to me in my suffering.
My sweet girlfriend, T.H., I'm bringing you before the throne today. How I wish I could hold you and share tears with you and LAUGH with you. I have lovely pictures of your children and you together when they were little. The memories I am reliving with you now we will both do one day before the Throne of the King. Until then, please know, God's shoulders are big enough, His provision for you is great and the black hole will become sealed up in your heart through the continuous blood of Messiah washing your wound to healing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
